Civics, Clocks And Uconn Basketball

Our Towns

East Hampton

March 22, 1996

Decisions about East Hampton's municipal budget could hinge on the success of the University of Connecticut men's basketball team.

Should the Huskies get to the national championship game, the title match is on the evening of April 1. Long ago, East Hampton's board of finance set its annual budget hearing for April 1 at 7:30 p.m. This allows the board time to reconsider its budget before giving it to the town council April 9. Moving the hearing date is impractical. Besides, other than conflicts with religious holidays, schedulers would go crazy trying to anticipate problems such as sharing a date with UConn.

Ideally, civic-minded residents would forfeit the pleasure of watching the Huskies in favor of making known their views on the town budget. Even those with good intentions, however, might get so wrapped up in a UConn title match that they would ``forget'' the hearing.

Fortunately, the championship game does not begin until 9:22 p.m. Organized speakers could make their points and still see the tip-off. An exodus from the hearing would likely begin by 9 p.m. If possible, the finance board should consider starting at 7 p.m. The board's budget presentation takes about 20 minutes. UConn fans would would have an hour and a half to speak without fear of missing anything.

The pressure to leave could have benefits. All hearings have those who ramble or repeat previous speakers. If residents voluntarily adopted a rule like the basketball shot clock -- a requirement to shoot the ball within 35 seconds -- time could be saved. Anyone, who fails to make a new point within 35 seconds would yield the floor.

Of course, the purpose of hearings is to let everyone say his piece. But, if UConn's luck holds, the finance board could see a fast break.